Out d’Coup | Wagner, “Young and Naive”; Fired Cartoonist Exhibit; Mark Janus Retires; Corp. Dems Hold Desperate Meet-Up; Sessions at Turning Point; Mars Lake; SkyNet; Breaker Brewing Co; and more!

Scott Wagner made international news this week when he called 18-year-old Rose Stauss “young and naive” for challenging him on his climate change denialism and the $200,000 he received from the oil and gas industry. Strauss is part of the youth-led environmental group, the Sunrise Movement. Sean Kitchen was there to capture it all, lighting the spark that caught fire around the world.  and share it to the world. Wagner’s gaffe was picked up in the BBC and the Australian Press and Rose Strauss went on to get an Op-Ed in Teen Vogue and interviewed in the New York Times.

Philly solicitor Marcel Pratt says that ICE is most likely in violation of an information sharing agreement with the city. Rob Roger, the former political cartoonist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who was fired for cartoons critical of Trump, gets his own exhibit at the Corcoran Art Museum in DC. The State of Pennsylvania orders companies to plug more than 1,000 abandoned gas wells. The wells pose potential environmental risks and can leak climate-wrecking gases. Fall rallies are being planned in support of the PA Promise, the bill that would provide free college tuition in PA. Floods across the state and in Harrisburg thanks to torrential downpours and “training showers,” a new weather term Kevin learned this week. Pipeline contractors post Wagner/Bartos signs outside construction staging area near Ricketts Glenn. How’s that support for Big Gas working for you, Gov. Wolf?

Mark Janus, the man who brought us Janus v. AFSCME, retires with his union-won pension and joins right-wing think-tank, the Illinois Policy Institute. His co-workers throw him a party but don’t invite him.

Corporate Democrats hold a conference to figure out how to stop progressives ahead of the 2020 presidential election. “Opportunity 2020” - sponsored by Third Way and the billionaire real-estate developer, Winston Fisher - searched for their message and their candidates. Their big ideas are a venture-capital-like bank to give out loans to the poor; a vague apprenticeship program, a for-profit retirement fund; and, a plan to put old folks to work through an “Americorps-like program for retirees.” Democratic Party makes historic cuts in the number of caucus states, potentially to stave off progressives. Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan signals he’s getting into the 2020 presidential race. Hoping to win with the “yoga vote”.

Jeff Sessions joins students attending Turning Point USA conference in chants of “lock her up.” Maria Butina will remain in jail as her case gets interesting as it begins to implicate the NRA as well. Georgia Republican Jason Spencer said some really racist shit on Sacha Baron Cohen’s new TV Show “Who is America?” and was forced to resign. A new study from Princeton and Northwestern universities offers evidence that the U.S. is an oligarchy. Economic Policy Institute new report shows that the New Gilded Age is indeed upon us. Climate scientists warn that the red alert is on and that the Trump White House is doing everything it can to reverse 20 years of progress - progress that is insufficient as it is.

Young Swedish activist boards plane and refuses to take her seat to prevent a man from Afghanistan from being deported. Today is the deadline for the Trump organization to reunite families. What are the odds that’s going to happen? Lawyer says “There doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason on who gets released and who doesn’t…It’s mind-boggling.” Turns out Putin gave Trump a soccer ball with a transmitter chip in it. That can’t be a problem, right? And, even Billy Joel wants to know why more people aren’t cracking Nazi skulls.

A lake found on Mars? You bet! On Friday night, Mars will reach opposition, its closest approach to Earth since 2003. Here’s how to see it. Friday night will also be the longest Blood Moon of the 21st century...but it won’t be visible in North America. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson tells David Ignatius of the Washington Post that the “Space Force” debate is just great. Airbus is actually building Skynet, well, technically “Network in the Sky.” Cue Terminator memes.

Shout out to Breaker Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre - I even got a warn Raging Chicken welcome! I sampled Rooibos IPA, Pineapple Vanilla Dreamsicle, Minefire Blackberry Jalapeño Ale, and Santa Fe Pils. I also brought home two 4 packs: Metamorphosis and Breakfast Club “The Basket Case.”  And, Sean goes to Forest and Main...did he actually bring his niece with him? We’ll find out.

Also, thanks and a huge shout out to for folks over at Party Unity - the official podcast of Social Dem. Social Dem is a political blog and media project covering American politics with a special focus on the interrelation between the Democratic Party and the socialist movement. Their latest episode focused on some of their favorite lefty media and they gave us a big shout out on their show. Do check them out on SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/socialdem.